Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum
Trifolium depauperatum
blunt sack clover, dwarf sack clover, truncate sack clover
balloon sack clover, cowbag clover, dwarf sack clover, poverty clover
erect or decumbent, branched.
palmate;
stipules sheathing proximally, ovate-oblong to lanceolate, 0.4–1.3 cm, margins entire or serrulate, apex short triangular-cuspidate;
petiole 1–5 cm;
petiolules to 1 mm;
leaflets 3, blades lanceolate, linear, obovate, or oblanceolate, 0.4–2.5 × 0.1–0.7 cm, base cuneate, veins moderately thickened abaxially, margins entire, serrate, or pinnately lobed, apex rounded, truncate, acute, or retuse, surfaces glabrous.
0.5–1 cm diam.
axillary or terminal, 3–15-flowered, globose or depressed-globose, 0.5–1.5 × 0.5–1.5 cm;
involucres flattened, 3–13 mm, ± distinct or incised 1/2 their length, lobes 5–7, linear to elliptic or irregular, or vestigial, reduced to narrow ring, apex rounded to broad and irregularly erose, not split.
2–6 cm.
lobes oblong, ± distinct, often with narrow hyaline margins and raised, parallel veins.
straight, 0–0.5 mm;
bracteoles absent.
3–8 mm.
3–10 mm;
calyx campanulate, 2–5 mm, glabrous, veins 5, tube 1–2.5 mm, lobes unequal, triangular-lanceolate or subulate, orifice open;
corolla white or pink, 3–11 mm, inflated in fruit, banner broadly ovate, 4–7 × 3–8 mm, apex rounded, broad, acute, or retuse.
ovoid or obovoid, 2–3 mm, stipes 0.5–1 mm.
sessile or stipitate, ovoid, obovoid, or oblong, 2–4 mm.
1–6, gray or tan, mottled, mitten-shaped, 1.2–1.6 mm, irregularly bumpy.
= 16.
Trifolium depauperatum var. truncatum
Trifolium depauperatum
In the flora area, var. truncatum is found in the North Coast Ranges through the Central Valley to southern California.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
The three varieties of Trifolium depauperatum are relatively easily distinguished by characteristics of the involucres and fruit stipes. Leaf morphology is not helpful in making the distinctions; in each variety, leaf margins can range from nearly entire or toothed or laciniate. In the phylogenetic treatment by N. W. Ellison et al. (2006), T. depauperatum is not allied with T. fucatum and other clovers with inflated corollas but rather with T. obtusiflorum, T. trichocalyx, and T. willdenovii (although with weak support).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Involucres reduced to narrow vestigial ring; inflorescences 1–1.5 cm diam.; flowers 7–10 mm; legumes ovoid, 3–4 mm, sessile. | var. depauperatum |
1. Involucres with evident bracts; inflorescences 0.5–1 cm diam.; flowers 3–8 mm; legumes oblong, ovoid, or obovoid, 2–4 mm, sessile or stipes 0.5–1 mm. | → 2 |
2. Involucral lobes broad, irregular, with broad, hyaline margins and reticulate veins; legumes oblong, 3–4 mm, ± sessile. | var. amplectens |
2. Involucral lobes oblong, often with narrow hyaline margins and raised, parallel veins; legumes ovoid or obovoid, 2–3 mm, stipes 0.5–1 mm. | var. truncatum |
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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